The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has announced a suspension of Baron Sports Gaming Ltd, which operates under the name Forzza. This decision, made public on Thursday, mandates that Forzza immediately halt all operations within Rwanda. Additionally, the company must eliminate any advertising and promotional materials associated with its brand.
The RDB's action follows findings that Forzza was offering casino-style games that exceed what is allowed under its current licence, which strictly permits sports betting. The regulator has indicated that further enforcement action may follow if Forzza continues operations during the suspension.
In a statement to The New Times, a local newspaper, Forzza expressed its astonishment at the suspension, noting that it had not received an official explanation from the RDB.
Rwanda aims to attract international gambling operators to foster market growth. Serge Nyombayire, the RDB’s Chief Operating Officer, shared recently with iGB that there are currently 15 licensed operators in the Rwandan gambling sector, including a national lottery provider. With the suspension of Forzza, this number has now decreased to 14.
Earlier this month, in a move to expand its gambling market, Rwanda issued licenses to three new operators. Both ForteBet and the Betway brand from Super Group were granted permissions for online sports betting and casino operations, while ElephantBet secured a licence solely for online sports betting.
Nyombayire emphasized the importance of attracting reputable operators like Betway, which he described as vital for the growth of Rwanda’s gambling sector. He noted, "Companies like Betway have proven their experience elsewhere, and their way of doing business has been seen as the proper way in so many aspects. So for us, it really showcases that Rwanda is trying its best to really welcome these kinds of companies."
He also mentioned the potential benefits of working with these experienced companies to help shape Rwanda's gambling laws, expressing a desire for mutual exchange of information between regulators and operators. “We believe in a sector that is interactive, that can exchange information from us as a regulator, but also we hope a lot from this type of operator. We believe it will be a very good way to learn from each other."
